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Professor Andrew Lowe
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Professor Andrew Lowe is Chair of Plant Conservation Biology and Director of the Centre for Conservation Science and Technology at the University of Adelaide. He is also Principal Advisor:- Biodiversity Research Partnerships for the South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources.
He leads a number of national and regional research programs, including the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) for which he is Associate Science Director, and established the Transects for Environmental Monitoring and Decision-making (TREND) program.
His research aims to develop and apply ecological and genomic analyses, to understand, monitor and better manage biodiversity, particularly adaptation in the face of the anthropogenic threats of habitat fragmentation, invasive species and climate change.
He also has experience commercializing research, and is Chief Scientific Office of Double Helix Tracking Technologies, a Bioknowledge startup headquartered in Singapore that uses DNA tools to eliminate illegally logged timber from global supply chains.
At the University, Prof Lowe leads a group of 40 scientists, has leveraged over $100M funding over the last 10 years and has published over 200 scientific publications.
He has collaborated with over 300 researchers (as evidenced by joint publications, funded projects or student supervision), from nearly 100 institutes and 30 countries
He is passionate about communicating science to a general audience, particularly on the threats and solutions to biodiversity pressures, and used these skills to the full during a recent term as Acting Director of the South Australian Museum.
Executive Dean’s prize for mid-career researcher (within 15 years of PhD) in the Faculty of Science, 2010
Finalist for South Australian Scientist of the Year (in Research Collaboration category), 2010
LinkedIn: Andrew Lowe
Director of the Centre for Conservation Science and Technology (2015-ongoing), and previously Director of the Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity (ACEBB, 2009-2014), the Environment Institute, University of Adelaide
Principal Advisor: Biodiversity Research Partnerships (2014-ongoing), and previously Head of Science (2006-2012), Department of Environment, Water & Natural Resources, South Australian Government
Associate Science Director (2010-ongoing), and previously Facility Director for the National Scientific Reference Site Network and Ecoinformatics facilities, Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN, 2010-onoging)
Chief Scientific Officer, DoubleHelix tracking Technologies, Singapore (2010-ongoing)
Acting Director, South Australian Museum (2013)
Lecturer at the University of Queensland (2003-2006)
Senior Scientist at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Edinburgh (1998-2003)
Postdoctoral Researcher at BBSRC Long Ashton, Bristol (1998)
Postdoctoral Researcher at Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Edinburgh (1996-1997)
International Consultant, International Livestock Research Institute, Kenya (1996)
Field Science Officer for Society for Environmental Exploration, Tanzania (1991-1992)
Bsc (Hons) in Applied Biology, Bath University (1987-1991)
Teach into third year courses 'Australian Vegetation' and 'Conservation and Restoration'
Higher degree students
Stefan Caddy Retalic (2014-ongoing) Monitoring technologies for assessing ecosystem change. PhD, University of Adelaide (Lowe AJ, Wardle GM, McInerney FA)
John McDonald (2013-ongoing) Chenopod biogeography. PhD, University of Adelaide (Lowe AJ, Biffin E, Thurgate N)
Nick Gellie (2013-ongoing) Developing best practice approaches for restoring forest ecosystems that are resilient to climate change. PhD, University of Adelaide (Lowe AJ, Breed M, Thurgate N)
Joey Gerlach (2013-ongoing) Phylgoeography of southern conifers. MSc/PhD, University of Adelaide (Lowe AJ, Biffin E, Dormontt E)
Duncan Jardine (2013-ongoing) DNA tools to control illegal logging in Africa. MSc/PhD, University of Adelaide (Lowe AJ, Austin J, Cross H, Dormontt E)
Ben Sparrow (2012-ongoing) Geospatial Ecology: Methods for enhancing the use of Geospatial technologies in Ecology. PhD, University of Adelaide (Lowe AJ, Phinn S)
Matthew Christmas (2012-ongoing) Adapt, migrate or die; biodiversity adaptation strategies in the face of climate change. PhD, University of Adelaide (Lowe AJ, Biffin E, Breed M)
Gareth Smith Belton (2010-ongoing) Taxonomy, phylogenetics and phylogeography of the Great Australian Bight macroalgae: biodiversity and the relict species concept. PhD, University of Adelaide (Gurgel F, Lowe AJ)
Bianca Dunker (2009-2014) Seed dispersal, landscape genetics and fire. PhD, Flinders University (Bull M, Driscol D, Lowe AJ, Keith D)
Nuttanun Soisup (2009-2014) Molecular Systematics of Marine Macroalgae. PhD, University of Adelaide (Lowe AJ, Gurgel F)
Austin Brown (2009-2013) Speciation mechanisms in Australasian Lachnagrostis. PhD, University of Adelaide (Lowe AJ, Cross H, Cantrill D, Murphy D, Cross H)
Margaret Heslewood (2007-ongoing) Phylogeography and biogeography of genera in the family Cunoniaceae in Australia. PhD, University of Adelaide (Lowe AJ, Rossetto M, Crayn D)
Ellie Dormontt (2007-2013) Why do only some exotics become invasive? Combining ecological and genomic approaches to address alternative hypotheses in a recent Australian weed. PhD, University of Adelaide (Lowe AJ, Prentis P, Ostendorf B). Thesis was highly praised by examiners and passed with no corrections
Martin Breed (2009-2012) Restoration genetics in Murray mallee and Neotropical Forests: implications for management and planning. PhD, University of Adelaide (Lowe AJ, Ottewell K, Gardner M). Received Deans commendation for PhD thesis and won SA Science Excellence Awards for PhD Research Excellence – in the Life and Environmental Sciences category
Fran MacGilvary (2008-2012) Tracking phenological shifts and evolutionary impacts due to climate change. PhD, University of Adelaide (Lowe AJ, Conran J, Hudson I)
Rohan Melick (2008-2012) The affect of Quaternary climate change on the distribution of a rainforest gymnosperm (Podocarpus elatus) along the east coast of Australia using palynological and molecular evidence. PhD, University of Adelaide (Lowe AJ, Rossetto M, Hill R)
James Hereward (2006-2012) Host association, coevolution and gene flow in mirids. PhD, University of Queensland (Walter G, Lowe AJ)
Jessie Wells (2001-2012) Spatial ecology of plant regeneration in secondary rainforests of the wet tropics. PhD, University of Queensland, (Possingham H, Lowe AJ, Hilbert D)
Jolene Scoble (2008-2012) Identifying historic and contemporary refugia for arid avifauna threatened by climate change in South Australian mallee ecotonal vegetation. PhD, University of Adelaide (Lowe AJ, Smyth A, Joseph L, Gardner M). Won School of Earth and Environmental Sciences prize for best paper produced by a PhD student whilst still within candidature
Craig Costion (2008-2011) The great Australasian floral interchange; Developing phylogenetic methods for biogeography & conservation. PhD, University of Adelaide (Lowe AJ, Crayn D)
Jason Boxall (2015) Using provenance trials to inform seed collecting of eucalypts in South Australia. University of Adelaide (Lowe AJ, Breed MF, Gellie N)
Taj Arndall (2012-2013) Population dynamics and conservation genetics of endangered orchids. BSc Hons, University of Adelaide (Lowe AJ, Cross H, Biffin E)
Kimberly McCallum (2011) A multidisciplinary approach to conserving Callistemon teretifolius in a changing climate. BSc Hons, University of Adelaide (Lowe AJ, Guerin G)
My main research focus is in plant ecological and evolutionary genetics:
Gene flow and adaptation at landscape levels
Even when individuals of a species survive in remnant habitat, small population sizes make them more susceptible to extinction due to stochastic events and decreased genetic diversity, which decreases resilience (Lowe et al 2005). Whilst changes in genetic diversity can take many generations to become manifest, immediate changes in gene flow dynamics, due to a changed matrix (e.g. remnant habitat isolated by urban or agricultural contexts), can have detrimental impacts on the fitness of the new generation in these new landscapes. Research in my lab has demonstrated this effect for plants (Breed et al 2013a; Ward et al 2005) and animals (Pavlacky et al 2012; 2010), and in Australian (Breed 2012a, b; Breed et al 2011), European (Bacles et al 2006, 2005) and tropical systems (Davies et al 2013; Breed 2012c; Davies et al 2010).
Current work is focusing on integrating landscape genetic and adaptation measures into conservation and restoration management and policy frameworks. By locating genetic refugia, quantifying landscape level gene flow and assessing the strength of local adaptation, new principles for corridor and restoration planning have been developed (Broadhurst et al 2008, Sgro et al 2010; Navarro et al 2010, 2011; Breed et al 2013). At a national level, Greening Australia, Trees for Life, the Forestry Commission (UK) and English Nature have all reassessed their seed sourcing strategy based on this information.
Species refugia and genetic strucutre at regional scales
Historically species have adapted to major climate shifts by either migrating across regions, surviving within relatively climatically stable locations (refugia), and/or adapting to new environments (migration, adaptation or extinction). The identification of refugia and major migration pathways is of critical interest to biogeographic science since it gives an insight into how the differing life history characteristics of species confer resilience to environmental change during periods of major climatic upheaval.
My group has examined the historical range dynamics of a range of plants (Mellick et al 2011; Navarro et al 2005; Cavers et al 2005; 2003a) and animals (Hereward et al 2013), across Australia (Mellick et al 2012; McCallum et al 2013), Europe (Cotrell et al 2002; Petit et al 2002), the Neotropics (Cavers et al 2013; 2004; 2003b; Lemes et al 2010), China (Wang et al 2009; Kang et al 2007) and Africa (Hardy et al 2013; Lowe et al 2010). Our group have combined genetic and simulation modelling procedures to examine the influence of dispersal/migration on a species’ ability to respond to both past and future climate change scenarios (Davies et al 2004, 2013; Lowe et al 2006; McCallum et al 2013; Mellick et al 2012; 2011; Scoble and Lowe 2010) and to identify refugia using independent data sources. Current work is trying to locate important historical refugia for a range of taxa and to determine the relative role of glacial oscillations and shorter term (e.g. el niño) climatic variability on underlying genetic structure within populations.
Using knowledge of genetic structure within species, particularly for valuable timber species (e.g. Cavers et al 2003; Lemes et al 2010), we have been developing specific markers to aid the tracking and identification of material from unknown or dubious sources (Lowe et al 2010; Lowe & Cross 2011), and work with forest certification companies and NGOs (e.g. WWF and FSC) to identify the species and source of origin of timber to eliminate illegally logged products in supply chains.
Community diversity and resilience at continental scales
Climate change is forcing a change in the composition of biological communities. These changes also offer an opportunity for the establishment of invasive species. Knowledge of which species co-occur at particular locations and what their environmental resilience is are critical to underpinning ecological understanding and species distribution models. Some of our research in this area has examined the rate of change in species communities along environmental gradients (temperature and rainfall; Guerin et al 2013). This work has demonstrated that lowland semi-arid and upland heath ecosystems of South Australia appear to be relatively stable to temperature increases, but that the slope vegetation changes quickly and dramatically within one degree of temperature change. A similar pattern is observed for rainfall. In addition, certain taxonomic groups were found to be more sensitive to such changes, for example many endemic families of plants (e.g., Ericaceae, Proteaceae, Myrtaceae and Orchidaceae), whilst major weeds (e.g. Poaceae and Asteraceae) are much more resilient to these changes (Guerin et al 2013).
Our research was also the first to demonstrate an adaptive shift in plant morphology linked to climate change when a narrowing of leaf width was identified over a 20-year period for the narrow-leaved hop bush in South Australia (Guerin et al 2012; Guerin and Lowe 2012).
Biogeography and macro-evolution
A continuing debate in the Australasian region and globally has been the role of long distance dispersal in speciation and adaptive radiations on new and ancient (Gondwanan) landmasses. My group’s review of published literature found that New Caledonia has acted as a previously unrecognised source of origin for many South Pacific island taxa (Keppel et al 2009). My work on the Araucariaceae southern conifer group identified that the radiation of species has been much more recent than previously identified, and that these conifers have experienced a long and sustained period of extinction and re-evolution of morphotypes similar to contemporary taxa. Proof of this recent radiation means that the New Zealand kauri is a relatively recent floral element (30MY) that dispersed to this Gondawanan fragment after the Oligocene marine inundation (Biffin et al 2009). Also the basal radiation of Araucariaceae places the split with Wollemia, a recently discovered basal lineage and previously labeled ‘dinosaur plant’, well after the KT boundary and means it evolved contemporaneously with mammals (Biffin et al 2011).
Interspecific hybridisation and weed evolution
I studied the evolution of Britain’s newest plant species, discovered only 30 years ago, and described it as a new species, Senecio eboracensis Abbott & Lowe, based on ecological and molecular evidence (Lowe and Abbott, 2003). The origin of a new species within our time and its adaptation to man-made habitats (car parks; Lowe & Abbott 2004, Abbott & Lowe 2004) captured the scientific community and public imagination alike. In addition to scientific articles, press releases resulted in international media coverage (e.g. front page of The Times). The story also caused raging debate in creationist vs. evolution online forums, and a young British artist, Nich Relph, was inspired to produce an installation at the Finnish National Gallery on hearing the story.
Recent work of our group has focused on examining the genomic composition and gene expression changes in the invasive range of important Australian weeds (e.g. bellyache bush, cats claw creeper and fireweed). Proof of genetic mixing, hybridisation (Prentis et al 2007; 2009) and rapid genomic changes in invasive compared to native ranges (Prentis et al 2010), has led to a reappraisal of the role of genomic and evolutionary mechanisms in the field of invasive biology (Prentis et al 2008), an area previously dominated by ecological paradigms (Wilson et al 2008, 2009). Ongoing work is assessing the importance of genetic and gene expression changes in the case study species fireweed and linking dynamics to evolutionary and ecological processes.
Ecological and evolutionary genomics
During this recent period of genomics revolution, my lab has been rapidly developing genomic methods for ecological and evolutionary applications (e.g. Prentis et al 2008; 2010; Gardner et al 2011; Scoble et al 2012; Wei et al 2012; Roda et al 2013), and is part of the Regional Facility for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, which houses state-of-the-art laboratories for sequencing technologies applied to ecological and evolutionary problems. Within the last year, the Facility has been significantly expanded to cater for large Next Generation Sequencing and DNA barcoding projects.
Current fellows, postdocs and technical support working on these project include: Assoc. Prof Zdravko Baruch, Assoc. Prof Nicole Thurgate, Dr Elly Dormontt, Dr Martin Breed (DECRA), Dr Ed Biffin (ARC SuperScience Fellow), Dr Greg Guerin, Dr Kor-Jent van Dijk, Dr Anita Smyth, Dr David Turner, Ben Sparrow, Caleb Coish, Christina Pahl, Craig Walker, Emrys Leitch, Mark Saunders, Matt Schneider, Mosheh Eliyahu, Rick Flitton, Ben Till, Tom Saleeba, Andrew Tokmakoff.
For more information goto: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/acebb/projects/plant.html
Since 2000, I have led 28 research grants, worth more than $34M (equivalent), and have been a partner on a further 22 grants, with a total combined income of approximately $100M, which and has included roles as scientific coordinator (7 projects >$1M, PSRF, EU, TERN), and partner in major national and international programs (5 projects $2-50M, TERN, NCCARF and EU).
Large collaborative or international grants
Lowe AJ, Rimbawanto A (2014-2015) Proof on concept: verification of chain of custody of teak in Indonesia and Myanmar using DNA markers (ACIAR - Small research and development activity, $60K)
Lowe AJ, Austin A, Cooper S, Crayn D, Nevill P, Appleyard S (2014-2015) Framework DNA barcode datasets for Australia. BioPlatforms Australia (BPA, $500k; total leverage $2.4M)
Lowe AJ, Degen B, Rimawanto A, Grant A (2014-2015) Implementing a DNA timber tracking system in Indonesia. International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO, $600K)
Clancy T, Phinn, Lowe AJ, Saunders M, Thurgate N, Walker C, Sparrow B, Caddy-Retalic S. Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network. Dept Education. (NCRIS 2013 $1.6M)
Clancy T, Phinn, Lowe AJ, Deed J (2013-2014) Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network. DIISRTE Collaborative Research Infrastructure Scheme (CRIS, $2.8M)
Lowe AJ, Walker C, Chinnick P, Turner D (2012-1014) Harmonisation and Retrieval of Ecological Data – SHaRED. National eResearch Collaboration Tools and Resources Project, RT020 (NeCTAR, $900K)
Lowe AJ, Walker C, Chinnick P, Turner D (2012-1014) From soils to satellites: Data integration across domains. Australian National Data Service (ANDS, $500K)
Degen B, Koch G, Hardy O, Lowe A, Doucet J-L, Höltken A, Cavers S, Boner M, Kelly S, Horacek M, Yéné Yéné G, Zahnen J, Opuni Frimpong E, Ngomanda A, Odee D (2012-1016) Development and implementation of a species identification and timber tracking system in Africa with DNA fingerprints and stable isotopes. International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO, US$ 1.7M)
Lowe AJ, Lindenmayer D, Liddell M (2011-2014) Long-term Australian Multi-scale Plot System (LAMPS), incorporating Ausplots, LTERs and Supersites. Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN), EIF-DIISR ($12M)
Lowe AJ, Hayman P, Bradshaw CJ, Brook B, Cooper A, Gurgel F, Ophel-Keller K, Tanner J, Foulkes J, Hamden R (2010-2013) Transect for Environmental monitoring and Decision making (TREND): Adaptive management of productive and native systems for climate change. Premier’s Science and Research Fund (PSRF $1.35M)
Lowe AJ, Foulkes J et al (2010-2012) National Scientific Reference Site Network – Australian Rangeland Ecosystems. Component of South Australian consortium application (coordinators Meyer W and Lowe AJ) for Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN). NCRIS-DEST ($3M)
Lowe AJ, Pillman S, Coddington P, Jenkins C et al (2010-2012) Eco-informatics – integrating and visualizing ecosystems information. Component of South Australian consortium application (coordinators Meyer W and Lowe AJ) for Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN). NCRIS-DEST ($4.5M)
Williams, S, Hughes L, Stafford–Smith M, Possingham H, Hoffman A, Brook B, Lowe A, Pressey B, Williams D, Garnett S, Kitching R, Thomas C, Moritz C (2009-2013) Terrestrial Biodiversity - Adaptation Research Network - National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF $1.6M)
Meyer W, Stringer R, Lewis M, Brook B, Bryan B, Connor J, Hayman P, Fisher A, Johnson J, Lowe A, Williams S (2009-2012) Climate Change, Communities and Environment: Building Research Capability to Identify Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Options for South Australian Landscapes. Premier’s Science and Research Fund (PSRF $1.26M)
Nationally competitive funding
Austin A, Lowe AJ Donnellan SC, Cooper A, Gardner MG, Cooper SJ, Weinstein P, Beheregaray LB, Waycott M, Bull CM, Wilkinson MJ, Stevens MI, Mitchell JG, Watson-Haigh NS (2012) Next generation enhancement of the South Australian regional facility for molecular ecology and evolution. ARC LIEF LE130100065 ($370K). Partner/Collaborating Eligible Organisation(s)- The Flinders University of South Australia, South Australian Museum, University of South Australia, Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and State Herbarium of SA, Australian Wine Research Institute.
Lowe AJ, Degen B (2012-2014) Developing DNA tracking methods to identify illegally logged timber products from Africa. ARC Linkage LP120100648 ($273K)
Crayn D, Costion C, Bransgrove K, Schulte K, Abell-Davis S, Metcalfe D, Rossetto M, Lowe AJ (2012-2014) What is at risk? Identifying rainforest refugia and hotspots of plant genetic diversity in the Wet Tropics and Cape York Peninsula. National Environmental Research Program: Tropical Ecosystems Hub ($344K)
Lowe AJ, Rossetto M, Summerell B (2011-2014). Species and gene turnover across environmental gradients – a landscape approach to quantify biodiversity and resilience for climate adaptation. ARC Linkage, LP110100721 ($410K)
Lowe AJ, Brook B, Bradshaw C (2011-2014) Developing best-practice approaches for restoring forest ecosystems that are resilient to climate change. ARC Linkage, LP110200805 ($503K)
Lowe AJ, Bradshaw C, van den Hengel A, Brook B, Cooper A (2011-2014) Multi-model predictions of ecosystem flux under climate change based on novel genetic and image analysis methods. ARC Super Science Fellowships, FS1102 00051 ($556K)
Thomas D, Chew FT, Lowe AJ (2009-2011) DNA VerifiedTM Timber Origin. Proof of Concept stage, Technology Enterprise Commercialisation Scheme, Singaporean Government (SING$250K)
Lowe AJ, Keppel G (2007-2009) Genetic dynamics of lowland rainforest trees on islands in the tropical Southwest Pacific. Australian and Pacific Science Foundation ($24.5K).
Richardson DM, Wilson JR, Lowe AJ, Hedderson TAJ, Hoffman JH, Sheppard AW, Witt ABR, Foxcroft LC (2007-2010) Research for integrated management of invasive alien species; Using genetic techniques to improve understanding and management of invasive alien plant species in South Africa. Working for Water Programme, South African Government (South African R 1.4 M ~ $200K).
Lowe AJ, Clarke AR, Schenk PM, Rieseberg LH, Abbott RJ (2006-2009) Why do some exotics become invasive? Using ecological and genomic approaches to test alternative hypotheses in an Australian weed, fireweed. ARC Discovery DP0664967 ($561K).
Lowe AJ, Rossetto M, Crayne D, Pole M, Lambert D, Hollingsworth P (2006-2009) Developing biogeographic know-how: Improving species divergence and dispersal estimations to examine geological and climatic evolutionary drivers. ARC Discovery DP0665859 ($282K).
Published over 200 papers and book chapters, and over 100 reports, general article and websites.
For a ful list of recent publications goto:
Google Scholar: http://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=7f5oIgYAAAAJ&hl=en
Research Gate (pdfs): https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrew_Lowe2
University of Adelaide list: http://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/author?author=lowe,+a
Some key publications:
Lindenmayer DB, Burns E, Thurgate N, Lowe AJ (2014) Biodiversity and Environmental Change: Monitoring, Challenges and Direction. CSIRO Publishing. 624 pp.
Lowe AJ, Harris SA, Ashton PA (2004) Ecological Genetics; Design, Analysis and Application. Blackwells. http://au.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1405100338.html
Costion C, Edwards W, Ford A, Metcalfe D, Cross H, Harrington M, Richardson J, Hilbert D, Lowe A, Crayn D. Using phylogenetic diversity to identify ancient rain forest refugia and diversification zones in a biodiversity hotspot. Diversity and Distributions. Published online October 2014. doi: 10.1111/ddi.12266
Guerin G, Martín-Forés I, Biffin E, Baruch Z, Breed M, Christmas M, Cross H, Lowe AJ. Global change community ecology beyond species sorting: a quantitative framework based on Mediterranean Biome examples. Global Ecology and Biogeography. Accepted Feb 2014.
Breed MF, Ottewell KM, Gardner MG, Marklund MHK, Dormontt EE, Lowe AJ (2015) Mating patterns and pollinator mobility are critical traits in forest fragmentation genetics. Heredity. Published online doi:10.1038/hdy.2013.48.
Andersen A, Beringer J, Bull CM, Byrne M, Cleugh H, Christensen R, French K, Harch B, Hoffmann AA, Lowe AJ, Moltmann T, Nicotra A, Pitman A, Phinn S, Wardle G, Westoby M (2014) Foundations for the future: A long-term plan for Australian ecosystem science. Austral Ecology 39:739-748.
Dormontt EE, Gardner MG, Breed MF, Rodger J, Prentis PJ, Lowe AJ (2014) Genetic bottlenecks in time and space: reconstructing invasions from contemporary and historical collections. PLoS ONE 9:e106874.
Davies N, Field D, Amaral-Zettler L, Clark MS, Deck J, Drummond A, Faith DP, Geller J, Gilbert J, Glöckner FO, Hirsch P, Leong J-A, Meyer C, Obst M, Planes S, Scholin C, Vogler AP Gates RD, Toonen R, Berteaux-Lecellier V, Barbier M, Barker K Bertilsson S, Bicak M, Bietz MJ, Bobe J, Bodrossy L, Borja A, Coddington J, Fuhrman J, Gerdts G, Gillespie R, Goodwin K, Hanson PC, Hero J-M, Hoekman D, Jansson J, Jeanthon C, Kao R, Klindworth A, Knight R, Kottmann R, Koo MS, Kotoulas G, Lowe AJ, Marteinsson VT, Meyer E, Morrison N, Myrold DD, Pafilis E, Parker A, Parnell JJ, Polymenakou PN, Ratnasingham S, Roderick GK, Rodriguez-Ezpeleta N, Schonrogge K, Simon N, Valette-Silver NJ , Springer Y, Stone GN, Stones-Havas S, Sansone S-A, Thibault KM, Wecker P, Wichels A, Wooley JC, Yahara T, Zingone A and GOs-COS (2014) The founding charter of the Genomic Observatories Network. GigaScience 3:2.
Hardy OJ, Bourobou DN, Budde K, Daïnou K, Dauby G, Duminil J, Ewédjé E-E, Heuertz M, Koffi GK, Lowe AJ, Micheneau C, Poncet V. Comparative phylogeography of African rain forest trees: a review of genetic signatures of vegetation history in the Guineo-Congolian domain. Comptes Rendus Geoscience 345:284–296.
Guerin GR, Biffin E, Lowe AJ (2013) Spatial modelling of species turnover identifies climate ecotones, climate change tipping points and vulnerable taxonomic groups. Ecography 36: 1086–1096.
Cavers S, Telford A, Arenal F, Valencia R, Navarro C, Buonamici A, Lowe AJ, Vendramin GG. Cryptic species and phylogeography in Spanish Cedar, Cedrela odorata L., throughout the Neotropics. Journal of Biogeography 40:732–746.
Roda F, Liu H, Wilkinson MJ, Walter GM, James ME, Bernal DM, Melo MC, Lowe A, Rieseberg LH, Prentis P, Ortiz‐Barrientos D (2013) Convergence and divergence during the adaptation to similar environments by an Australian groundsel. Evolution 67: 2515-2529.
Breed MF, Stead M, Ottewell K, Gardner MG, Lowe AJ (2013) Which provenance and where? Seed sourcing strategies for revegetation in a changing environment. Conservation Genetics 14: 1–10.
Breed MF, Marklund MHK, Ottewell KM, Gardner MG, Harris JBC, Lowe AJ (2012) Pollen diversity matters: revealing the neglected effect of pollen diversity on fitness in fragmented landscapes. Molecular Ecology 21(24): 5955-5968.
Guerin GR, Wen HX, Lowe AJ (2012) Leaf morphology shift in response to climate change. Biology Letters 8(5): 882-886.
Mellick R, Lowe A, Allen C, Hill RS, Rossetto M (2012) Palaeodistribution modelling and genetic evidence highlight differential postglacial range shifts of a rain forest conifer distributed across a latitudinal gradient. Journal of Biogeography 39: 2292-2302.
Breed MF, Gardner MG, Ottewell KM, Navarro CM, Lowe AJ (2012) Changing trade-offs between inbreeding costs and reproductive assurance in Central American big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla). Ecology Letters 15: 444-452.
Biffin E, Brodribb TJ, Hill RS, Thomas P, Lowe AJ (2012) Leaf evolution in Southern Hemisphere conifers tracks the angiosperm ecological radiation. Proceedings of the Royal Society, Biological Science. 279: 341-348.
Costion C, Ford A, Cross H, Crayn D, Harrington M, Lowe AJ (2011) Plant DNA barcodes can accurately estimate species richness in poorly known floras. PLoS ONE 6(11): e26841.
Lowe AJ, Cross HB (2011) The Application of DNA to Timber Tracking and Origin Verification. Journal of the International Association of Wood Anatomists 32(2): 251-262.
Gardner MG, Fitch AJ, Bertozzi T, Lowe AJ (2011) Rise of the machines – recommendations for ecologists when using second generation sequencing for microsatellite development. Molecular Ecology Resources 11: 1093–1101.
Sgrò CM, Lowe AJ, Hoffmann AA (2011) Building evolutionary resilience for conserving biodiversity under climate change. Evolutionary Applications 4: 326–337.
Biffin E, Hill R, Lowe AJ (2010) Did Agathis (Araucariaceae: Coniferales) really survive the Oligocene drowning of New Zealand. Systematic Biology 59: 594–602.
Scoble J, Lowe AJ (2010) A case for incorporating phylogeography and landscape genetics into species distribution modelling approaches to improve climate adaptation and conservation planning. Diversity and Distributions 16: 343-353.
Wilson JRU, Dormontt EE, Prentis PJ, Lowe AJ, Richardson DM (2009) Something in the way you move: dispersal pathways affect invasion success. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 24: 136-144.
Broadhurst LM, Lowe A, Coates DJ, Cunningham SA, McDonald M, Vesk PA, Yates C (2008) Seed supply for broadscale restoration: maximising evolutionary potential. Evolutionary Applications 1: 587-597.
Prentis P, Dormontt E, Wilson A, Richardson D, Lowe AJ (2008) Adaptive evolution in invasive species. Trends in Plant Sciences 13: 288-294.
Prentis P, White EM, Lowe AJ, Clarke AR. (2007) Can hybridization cause local extinction: a case for demographic swamping of the Australian native Senecio pinnatifolius by the invasive Senecio madagascariensis? New Phytologist 176: 902-912.
Bacles CFE, Lowe AJ, Ennos RA (2006) Seed dispersal across a fragmented landscape. Science 311: 628.
Member of the UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) expert scientific working group to develop frasmework for the scientific verification of legally sourced timber (2014-ongoing)
Founding member of steering committee for Global Timber Tracking Network, established by Bioversity International (2012-ongoing)
Member of International Global Genome Biodiversity Network (2012-ongoing)
Australian co-representative on International Barcode of Life (IBOL) Science Steering Group (2009-ongoing)
Member of Board of the Atlas of Living Australia (2009-ongoing)
Chair and founding member of the Australian Barcode of Life Network, a national strategy group to provide leadership and integration across institutes (2007-ongoing, Chair since 2011)
Member of management committee of Terrestrial Biodiversity Node of the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF, 2008-2013)
Coordinator of International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO) working party on Population, Ecological and Conservation Genetics (Unit 2.04.01) with Sally Aitken (Canada) and Wickneswari Ratnam (Malaysia), (2003-2011)
In Dec 2011, I was host and co-chair (with David Schindel, Secretary of the Consortium of the Barcode of Life, Smithsonian Institute) of the fourth International Barcode of Life Conference held at the University of Adelaide. The conference was the largest and most successful meeting yet (>400 delegates), resulting in media reports reaching 34 countries in 15 languages, with coverage by major wire services in the United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia; and over 307 online publications. Special issues of Systematic Entomology and Molecular Ecology Resources covered conference research
Serving on journal editorial boards of Diversity and Distributions (2007-onwards), Silvae Genetica (2004-onwards), Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens (2006 –onwards)
On review panel (2014) for the New Zealand Natural Heritage research program a new investment of $200M in biodiveristy and biosecurity funding. Part of delegation to establish bilateral science research partnerships between Australia and Europe under the EU Horizon 2020 funding scheme ($70B).
Invited PhD external examiner for vivas at Oxford University, University of Adelaide, Uppsala University, James Cook University, University of New England, University of Queensland, University of Hong Kong, University of Mauritious.
Article and book reviewer for Current Biology, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, Ecology Letters, Molecular Ecology, Heredity, Genome, Genetics, Diversity and Distributions, Journal of Biogeography, Conservation Genetics, American Journal of Botany Theoretical and Applied Genetics, Forest Ecology and Management, Silvae Genetica
Grant reviewer for Australian Research Council (ARC), Hong Kong Research Council, Natural Environment Research Council (NERC, UK), National Science Foundation (NSF, USA), EU, New Zealand Challenge Awards, National Geographic Society (NGS, USA), Department for International Development (DfID UK Government), Department for Environment, Farming and Regions (DEFRA, UK Government), The Darwin Initiative, Scottish Executive
I have given over 120 presentations at international, national and public meetings (40 of which were invited plenaries), have been involved in organizing 20 scientific conferences or workshops, and have contributed to over 100 media pieces (radio, TV, newspapers and scientific periodicals)
My work on hybrid weed speciation (Lowe and Abbott 2004 Heredity) has been covered in The Times, Guardian, BBC radio, Yorkshire Post and Fife Times, caused strong debate in creationist vs. evolutionist websites, and inspired Young British Artists, Nick Relph and Oliver Payne, to exhibit an installation in the Finnish National Gallery (2005).
General interest articles
Lowe AJ, Caddy-Retalic S (2014) Will the climate debate end up being fought in court? The Conversation, 4th July 2014. https://theconversation.com/will-the-climate-debate-end-up-being-fought-in-court-25391
Thomas D, Lowe AJ (2013) Nature’s barcode: the simplest way to track wood: DNA fingerprinting becomes a viable option for verifying existing wood-tracking systems. ITTO Tropical Forests Update. 22/1: 16-19.
Lowe AJ, Cross H (2012) DNA based methods leave illegal loggers with no place to hide. The Conversation 12th November. http://theconversation.edu.au/dna-based-methods-leave-illegal-loggers-with-no-place-to-hide-8980
Christmas M, Lowe AJ (2012) In defence of the humble ant, champion of biodiversity. The Conversation 6th November. http://theconversation.edu.au/in-defence-of-the-humble-ant-champion-of-biodiversity-9678
Costion C, Lowe AJ (2012) Silent declines: recognising unlisted ‘endangered’ species. The Conversation 11th July. http://theconversation.edu.au/silent-declines-recognising-unlisted-endangered-species-8144?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+12+July+2012&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+12+July+2012+CID_c5d4c5bf8d73c7aeaae4d0262a5b71fc&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Silent+declines+recognising+unlisted+endangered+species
Lowe AJ, Caddy-Retalic S (2012) Genetically linked, a continent apart: the rise of DNA barcoding. The Conversation 31st May. http://theconversation.edu.au/genetically-linked-a-continent-apart-the-rise-of-dna-barcoding-7319
Lowe AJ (2012) Life Strikes Back. InDaily, 15th May. http://www.indaily.com.au/?iid=62934#folio=10
Caddy-Retalic S, Lowe AJ (2012) DNA barcoding: a better way to discover species. The Conversation 5th March. http://theconversation.edu.au/dna-barcoding-a-better-way-to-discover-species-4933
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